2010 Volkswagen GTI: The Seats

The plaid is kind of weird, but I guess that's a nostalgic thing?

captainvw,

Think of it as "none of that nonsense" with "that" referring to "seat heaters that only heat my belt loops". He's talking about other manufacturers' seats whose seat heaters only reach up a small portion up the seat and don't heat enough of the body.

On topic, it's weird that plaid can make some cool looking seats, but then again it is a Golf and isn't plaid the hip thing to wear when playing golf? I have no idea.

Mike,

Do you have a problem with your right leg rubbing the center console? I am 6’8” and I fit comfortably, but the only problem is that I have to contort my leg around the console to get to the gas pedal. This is one of the reasons I went with the Mini.

Thanks.

Love the retro seat covers.

I've had great luck finding comfort in VW seats. I've got probably 80,000 seat time in a 2004 VW Golf TDI and I've never been uncomfortable, even on trips of 10+ hours. To contrast, my KIA and MINI seats are no where near as good.

"I could usually care less about these" should be "i could usually NOT care less". (hate to be that guy but i can't help myself.)

they do look like great seats...

the plaid is kinda ugly...

Mike,

If you live in Southern California and need seat heaters, I would advise you not to move to the North East..

Now I remember why I don't like plaid seats-- one word: Fingerhut.

Test drove a Mk VI last week, and I can second the sentiments about the seats...they are wonderful. I love it when a company gives the good stuff as standard equipment instead of forcing you to "build" a decent version of the car via the options list.

Seriously, It's been in the 70's is S California this week and you are talking about seat heaters. It was 29 degrees this morning in Colorado and I still Didn't use seat heaters.

Great looking seats...and the GTI's have always had them.

@Jeepsrt --
Lately, it's been in the 40s every morning in CA and for us that's cold. Last week I saw my temp readout show 39 on the drive in at 6 AM. Yes, not arctic but I still find the seat heater a nice thing on cool mornings.

Yes. These seats are superb. I have the same seats in my '10 Golf (minus the plaid) and they are my favorite seats ever for a daily driver -perfectly supportive in every way I can think of. I haven't found them to be lacking in lumbar support (and I'm a guy that likes his lumbar support). I actually prefer these seats to the sport seats of my old 330i ZHP or the Vaders in my M3.

I've always loved the plaid sport seats in the GTI

Love the plaid GTI seats. I wish more autmakers offered premium cloth like this. Cloth seats in affordable cars have really nose-dived in recent years. Probably because they want you to upgrade to leather, but leather is not necessarily the best performance material. Most cloth looks cheap, feel terrible, and don't wear well or hide dirt. These, on the other hand, look quality.

+1 jederino
Give me cloth over leather or vinyl any day.

Glad to finally see a good substantial update on the GTI (though I did enjoy the BMW 5 series GT spy shot, ugly as that car is). I'm 5'8, and the seats fit me nicely too when I sat in the GTI. It just felt great. I also surprisingly really like the seat pattern. Usually I hate interior gimmicks (like the Mazdaspeed3's red dot interior, the Mini's huge center speedo, and the Camaro's retro gauges) but this just works for me. You might convince me to actually get a new car.

I also love the plaid. In general, I like interiors that go beyond drab gray and noncommital beige--hence my fondness for the two-tone schemes found in several recent GM offerings.

I have a MK VI GTI for my daily dee and I got it with leather because I have a small dog that travels with me and my girlfriend and he's not completely immune to ralphing on a long trip. The chances of it happening are pretty small, but having porous cloth, no matter how much I like it, in those situations would not be ideal. The leather is very nice...nicer than my G37S even.

My only complaint about the seats so far is the lack of motorized adjustment and position memory. I'm 6'1" and my girlfriend is 5'2", and while the seats are very comfortable, it takes me a little while to manually find that sweet spot for long trips if it's set up for her to drive. I'm sure there will be an article complaining about the lack of seat memory :)

I too will go on record as saying I love the look of these seats. I also got to sit in one recently and I found them to be quite comfortable too.

Plaid is not my favorite color. To me, it just doesn't work for car interiors. Looks cheap to me.

When I was looking at the '07 GTI you couldn't get heaters without leather- and I think that VW also made you pay for a hole in the roof. If I was going to buy a FWD car again -which I'm not- the '10 GTI would be at the top of my list.

Slightly difference fabric pattern, but same general seat as in my '07... still find them extremely comfortable, and it's great not to have to brace yourself on anything in corners. driver's seat does not show any wear either.

however,

i can predict a complaint you'll likely have with so many drivers rotating through the car: the back angle and height adjuster mechanisms are good for precision, not speed. so, when switching drivers of greatly differing heights, patience is a virtue.

@mini2009- You're 6'8" and drive a Mini?!! I'm suprised that you can find a comfortable driving position.

@audi sport

Surprising I fit really well. I did a 2000 mile road trip with no problems. The dash and the seats are set up perfectly for tall people. Usually I can not drive Japanese cars because the dash drops to low making it nearly impossible to work the pedals. The Mini is perfect. My only issue is with the interior build quality... That is another matter entirely.

stephen987 says:

10:40 AM, 03/16/10

I also love the plaid. In general, I like interiors that go beyond drab gray and noncommital beige--hence my fondness for the two-tone schemes found in several recent GM offerings.

I love my Onyx/Red leather in my G8 GT. This plaid though, hideous. Looks like something you'd see on a Ford Tempo from the 1980's.

I would never have imagined plaid being a good choice for seat covers, but somehow, VW manages to pull off the look with the GTI. Somehow it fits with the car's image.

I am surprised but I think it looks really nice......maybe because it is different. I also like the houndstooth in the Kia Soul. Maybe as I get older I am regressing. In the 70's a lot of small Fords had plaid seats (I grew up in Fords) Car interior colors and patterns have been boring the past 10-15 years.....too much gray and not enough color. I liked the seats on my 05 Mustang with the pony logos on the cloth.

how is the shoulder width on them?

I am a tallish guy (6'2") and am broad in the shoulders and can get pinched by narrow bolsters - these look fine but i am a bit worried.

@ mini2009: No problems with my leg and the center console. Thanks to the telescopic wheel I'm far enough from the pedals that my right leg remains relatively straight.

@ mcgs999: The bolsters aren't as narrow as they seem. I fit fine, though depending on your seating position your elbows may hit them when shifting into 4th gear.

@ mini2009: No problems with my leg and the center console. Thanks to the telescopic wheel I'm far enough from the pedals that my right leg remains relatively straight.

@ mcgs999: The bolsters aren't as narrow as they seem. I fit fine, though depending on your seating position your elbows may hit them when shifting into 4th gear.